Did you know that after the fight, donaire asked inoue to borrow his trophy for a night because he promised his sons to bring the trophy home which the Japanese guy granted?.. great sportsmanship and friendship
The back and forth, the injury, the knock down, the constant action every single second for 12 entire rounds. Just the pinnacle of what boxing can be when fought by the best.
I've never seen Inoue so exhausted like this in all his outings. All other matches are simply boxing, but against Donaire... it's WAR. At the end of the war is SPORTSMANSHIP at its finest.
I've never seen Donaire's face this banged-up before, and likewise I don't think I've ever seen anyone continue after the notorious liver shot! He got heart! 💜👊
Yes agree. If only they have same age then maybe enoue will see how to see a real fighter. I remember 1st champion of nonito fight with the undefeated 29 win with 29ko's ah he won after his brother of nonito defeated by that boxer.
This is by far the toughest fight I've ever seen Inoue in. And it's no surprise that it was against Donaire. No matter your weight division in boxing, you need to have a good chin & body to take good punches or you won't be able to win/defend any titles. And Inoue showed that in this fight.
In the rematch with Donaire, Inoue got way better, even with the injury from their first fight. He's like a totally different boxer compared to the first time they fought.
@russell c dude lol it's harder than ud think to dodge a punch, especially at lower weight classes where punches come much faster. U sound casual asf..
13:50 Unbelievable sportsmanship. You can tell these two athletes have tremendous respect for each other. I wish to see more display of humbleness like this in the west.
so much respect for both fighters. Nonito Donaire took a huge blow at round 5 then came back strong and had Naoya the next few rounds... then that insane body blow.. at round 11 from Naoya and for Nonito to come back up from that and still had some mean counter hooks for Naoya... that was INSANE. Respect.. both finished all the way through to 12 rounds. such an amazing fight.
The The Monster is just too quick, powerful and slick for anyone in his weight class up to now. Donaire is also an excellent Fighter and really pushed the Monster to give his Best. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a better fight and I’ve been watching for 55+ years.
fully respect to Nonito for his Gentlemen to the opponent and also for his ability and tough to fight naoya. i think it was the closer fight that Naoya ever had.
I actually enjoyed this fight, but when ino went up to his challenger to greet him for the fight at the end, I kinda jerked a tear. This was far more enjoyable fight that Western fights, they are rigged anyways
@@radiomellowtouch Donaire is 37 and way past his prime. Pacquiao is also past his prime. Difference is Pacquiao has always been on another level. Donaire is world class, Pacquiao is a legend. You can't compare those two. I love Donaire, but he needs to retire.
I'm re-watching this after Inoue won his 5th title. It's just makes me smile that coincidentally that counter right he got hit with in round 9 is the punch he used to win KO Fulton.
Man, Donaire was tough as shit in this fight. Those punches he took, floored and ko'd most of Inoue's opponents, Donaire took a gazillion of those and managed to finish the fight. Credits to Inoue too, he took 2 left hooks from hell, and didn't even go down, the punch that knocked out Montiel, Darchinyan and Young. What a fight!
How could anyone dislike this fight 🤦♂️ This is everything fight fans dream of...huge respect to all involved an the utmost honour to both fighters ❤️
@@bellaconcepcion8851 Yeh I hear ya pal, but for me,as a fight fan,I respect the fact that Donaire knows all of his own shortcomings but still went in to battle his heart out...cos he's a fighter...an that's what fighters do.There's lots of boxers but fighters are a different breed an only they can judge each other in my humble opinion,we're just here to enjoy when they meet...big respect to you though
@@bellaconcepcion8851 He may no longer be in his prime... but all a person can expect out of a fighter is for them to give it their all and that is exactly what both fighters did. They went and put on a great show for everyone.
I worked a 12 hour shift, got home and this fight was barely starting, by the end of the fight I still couldn’t sleep from how hyped i was and it was 7 am
In the twilight of his career Nonito Donaire put on one of the best performances of his career against a monster like Inoue and the respect at the end of just a treat to the eyes from two professionals 😊
at his age donaire still can fight like this at the highest level... he is truly legendary... and inoue.. we saw the future of japan boxing.. for me he is the greatest Japanese boxer of all time he can take out the boxing world by storm...
I am a Filipino and I usually hate it when a fellow Filipino fighter loses in the ring. But this is an exception. Got to love Inoue's humble nature. Hold on to it man. You'll need it as you ascend into greatness.
@Tiger Stripe im not a filipino, but floyd schooled manny? you watchin'? he literally just run the whole time lmao. he didnt play boxing he played catch me if u can lol.
Not exactly. Donaire was already past his prime in the first fight. The 2nd fight took place 3 years later when donaire was 39 years old. He was way over the hill at that point. Even if Inoue had no improvements he would still win the rematch.
A modern classic. Today perhaps it is not as appreciated as it should be as it is a lower weight fight, but if there is still analysis of good boxing, this fight should age as one of the best of all time. Hall of fame material on both sides...
Wow! Now that’s a fight! A lot of respect to Nonito. He’s one tough champ to fight a 26 yr old champ that’s 11 years younger than him. He sure has a lot of fuel in him still at his age.
@ADMIN its not excuse .. But facts . I think your just a hater .who believe that your monster is the best. But I know Inoue is a real fighter . I think he will become a legend. But now that he signed Bob Aarum Top rank ? I DON'T think man.. with Bob Aarum he would become a trash. Because Bob will never fight a real champ. Like the current state of Lomachenko . Loma is still fighting the chikens where we all know that loma has the talent.
@@MbdslEst1964 I agree, I think that fight was timed perfectly. Earlier than that Inoue would proly lack the experience and later than that it would proly be a one sided beat down. I like Donaire and yes I believe he is passed his prime in that fight yet the fact that it was one of the best fight in that year means that it was the perfect time for both of them. Yeah Donaire lost but it doesn't mean he is a bad fighter, he fought Inoue past his prime and still showed that kind of performance.
donaire has, no combination and follow up, no footwork, slow inside the ring, he has only power. he throw punch one or two but the opponent is fast, he cant beat this guy.
Donaire's shot at 12:08 is one of my favourite shots of all time....Backing up clearly hurt with Naoya stalking him and then judges Naoya's combo, slips the last shot and sinks the left flush....so fucking good
No wander this fight was awarded as the Best fight of that year. My eyes were mesmerized with Donaire's and Inoue's counter. They've showed us high level techniques.
And Donaire was waaaay out of his prime. Nonito in his prime was a beast, lightening fast with great KO power. Search Donaire vs Montiel, insane speed, insane KO!
@@sRvDj this first one was in 2019 so Donaire was 35. The 2nd one ended in TKO in 2022, greatly dominated by Inoue an Nonito waaay over his prime. Two warriors though and I remember the young Donaire, he was insane as well. It's just the torch passing from one beast to the other.
Donaire is so underrated and when you think of the duration of his career and the opponents he has fought and conquered, I give him so much kudos as a fighter and an iconic philipino boxer Donaire still dancing on air!
Not only did Inoue take a beating, but then dish it right back out, what a class fighter. Both fighters deserve respect as much as they gave each other.😊😊😊
Naoya fought with a broken orbital bone from round 4 and on. Billy Joe Saunders quit in the fight against canelo with that same injury. Inoue went another 8 rounds with a broken face.
I've never watched a better fight, both of these guys have lion hearts!! I don't know how he got up from that body shot and then started fighting back and landing solid punches.
En Esta Pelea Es Dónde INOUE, Demostró Que Además de Ser "Un Gran Campeón"... También Es "Un Tremendo Guerrero", y a Pesar de La Tremenda Lesión En (El Hueso De La Zona del Ojo) Con Corazón de León, Siguió y Ganó Merecidamente El Combate, Casi Ganando Por Nocaut al Gran Nonito Donaire.!
thats how a boxing fight should be..give your all and dont be scared to get knocked out for the fans unlike mayrunner who fights not to win but only not to lose..
goosebumps. you know when the fight is great when the home crowd is cheering when the opponent is getting up from a knockdown. they poured their hearts and being into their duty as a boxer which is very appealing to the japanese sensibility
Naoya and Nonito has a History before they even fought. Years ago when Naoya was still a very young up coming boxer he met Nonito in Japan. Nonito trained with him for a little bit and gave him some advice. He has tremendous respect to Nonito. This is the reason why he went to Nonito and Bow Downed to him after the fight. It is a Japanese Tradition to show respect. On Top of that Naoya let Nonito keep the Trophy for One Night. Nonito asked Naoya if he could borrow it because he promised his kids that he would bring the Trophy. Naoya respectfully let him Borrow the Trophy for One Night.
Inoue will pick him apart more methodically next time. He will jab and throw single power shots. Later in the fight he will start throwing combinations and finish him late. He gave Donaire too much opportunities for counters. You can't be throwing 5 or 6 punch combos against a fresh Donaire as he will counter with the left. We've seen it yesterday against Oubaali. That being said I never imagined I will see Donaire fight a guy who has a better left hook than him. Maybe not as powerful, but much quicker, faster and maybe even better timing. Crazy! Next time they meet, Donaire will be 39 or 40 and Inoue will be 29 at his peak. Donaire will only have a puncher's chance.
@@matangox Inoue learned from Donaire that left hook when he was younger. Only a matter of changing strategies for the next fight to make it an interesting one, knowing that this time around Donaire is not faster than his opponent.
@@matangox The age is the only reason why Inoue can beat Nonito... Cause prime Nonito would've eaten him alive. Too fast and superior boxing IQ. If 37yo Nonito hurt him badly imagine what a prime Nonito would've done to him.
13:42 Nonito's heart here is so fucking scary, he could've knocked out Inoue with those vicious punches, you'll see there how determined donaire was to bring the trophy home for his kids 😢, what a great passing of the torch. I think the prime donaire would destory naoya knowing that he did this great at such an age.
After the match, both Donaire and Inoue showed us and acknowledged themselves that they've got the great opponent on them. That's what sportsmanship really is. Big Respect to these two legends.
Fierce! What a battle! Look at the last round, the end where they just duking it out! And such sportsmanship. Both of them. In the end naoya pay respect to the legend. Incredible
For reals Naoya had easily become one of my favorite fighters not just because of his aggressive boxing style but he’s so respectful in the ring it’s nice to see compared to American fighters who’re all talk
holy friggin crap, what an epic blood and guts battle! These guys are both Elite, full package of skills and attributes, and they gave it more than everything. No loser there!
As a fan I appreciated these two boxers tremendously, slugging it out, no hit and run and no grabbing and holding. It was really close but the right call...kudos to both.
That was some fight. We found out later that Donaire had broken Inoue's orbital bone and his nose. That he fought through that was bravery personified. It could have gone both ways.
fantastic fight, fantastic highlights. First time I've seen Inoue really tested. Donaire hardly took a back step, just kept pressing forward. Both fighters are true warriors.
